Macy;s Makes Musical Available Free to Schools, Offers Grants

Posted by tricia.pemberton on Wed, 09/12/2012 - 1:41pm

Macy’s is making the script and score for “Yes, Virginia The Musical” free to all schools and will offer a grant program, awarding each of 100 participating schools a $1,000 grant to support productions of the musical. The grants will be awarded to the first 100 qualified schools that complete the application process through September 13. Go to www.yesvirginiamusical.com to submit a grant application, access a script, songs and videos featuring tips from Broadway insiders.

Debuting as an animated special in 2009, “Yes, Virginia” was inspired by the true story of 8-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon, who in 1897, wrote a letter to the New York Sun newspaper asking if there is a Santa Claus. The Sun’s editor, Francis P. Church responded with a poignantly worded essay on the importance of believing, including the famous lines “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist … ” His response became one of the most famous newspaper editorials of all time and served as the inspiration for Macy’s “Believe” campaign, which supports Make-A-Wish® and will celebrate its fifth anniversary this December.